As the Tampa Bay Buccaneers approach this year's NFL trade deadline on November 4, there is a good amount of fans who would like to see the team trade for an edge rusher. With Haason Reddick in the midst of an injury that has him labeled "week to week," the Bucs need some immediate help.
Even after Reddick is back, though, adding another top-tier pass rusher should be a priority for a team that wants to finally get over the hump in the postseason. Fortunately, one fellow NFC contender just gave the Bucs a bit of a lift.
The Detroit Lions have agreed to a massive extension with star pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson. It's a 4-year, $180 million deal for Hutchinson. For a team like the Lions, who were involved in whispers when it came to the likes of Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson, this likely puts them out of the running.
The Buccaneers just saw one team fall out of any potential Trey Hendrickson sweepstakes
Now, there are plenty of different rumors and reports out there. Some say the Bengals aren't going to trade Hendrickson. But, it might be worthwhile for the Bengals to part ways with their star.
The way this past offseason went for Hendrickson, he saw the Bengals refuse to give him the type of extension he knew he deserved. So, they re-worked the one year left on his contract and called it a day. Do we really think he's going to come back to play for Cincinnati in 2026?
The franchise tag is an option, of course. But that's another conversation.
The Buccaneers, meanwhile, may be able to figure out how to get Hendrickson paid on a long-term deal. Having both he and Antoine Winfield Jr. as their defensive cornerstones would instill an even greater hope into this fan base that Jason Licht is, in fact, serious about a Super Bowl.
We know the offensive side can keep up with anyone on any given Sunday. But, it's the defensive side of the ball that's had more questions than answers in recent years. For a head coach like Todd Bowles, Hendrickson would have to be a dream scenario come true.
Now that the Lions are likely out on a Hendrickson trade, the Bucs might be frontrunners if there is a legitimate race to land the Bengals star. Look at maybe the Dallas Cowboys making a ploy to land him, as well.
Hendrickson is coming off two-straight seasons with 17.5 sacks and he has 4.0 on the year in 2025.